Bird the word again as Broncos' Jack rides high on confidence

Back on track: Jack Bird has regained his confidence after a 2018 to forget.Credit:AAP

Jack Bird says he's finally regained his confidence after a disastrous 2018, with the Broncos centre prepared to write off last year entirely as he continues to rebound from a season in which everything that could go wrong did.

The former NSW Origin utility was good for the Broncos in their win over North Queensland at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night, running freely, chasing with vigour and creating space for his outside players.

Even better, he looked like he was having fun in the process. That in itself is a step for Bird, who was lured north on big money from the Sharks but had a shocking run with injuries as he tried to forge a new start at Red Hill.

He arrived needing a shoulder reconstruction and when he made it onto the field in round three, had ongoing concerns with his sternum, which in turn required an operation. His year comprised eight games in total, criticism over his weight and potshots at the Bennett's wayward and expensive recruiting.

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After a strong pre-season, which has seen him present leaner and quicker than before, Bird wants to make every post a winner under Anthony Seibold. He said he felt '99 per cent' better than last year and had made a pledge not to navel-gaze on last year.

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"Last year was a write-off for me. I came up here after a shoulder reco then had sternum surgery. It didn't go to plan. I knew it was going to be a long, hard road but I needed to get that out of my head and start this year fresh," Bird said.

"I had to forget everything that went on last year and move forward. I can't think about last year because it will just bring me down. I have to think positive and move forward.

"I just felt good out there. Before the game, I was confident and took that out onto the field. I haven't played much football for a couple of years, it's just good to be back on the field. I felt good."

Bird was down in the dumps for much of last season and understandably so. He spent most of it in injury rehab and missed his family after moving to Brisbane. So dire was the whole affair he said he couldn't pinpoint a moment that represented rock bottom. It was essentially the whole season.

Upbeat: Bird is a different player and riding high on confidence again. Credit:AAP

"I didn't come up here to sit on the sideline and not play. Being away from family, it was all hard. (It's been) rock bottom since I got here. I held myself together and tried to be strong and I knew I'd get through it. Here I am now," Bird said.

Through it all, even when it seemed gloomier than ever, Bird said he never lost the drive and always knew he was a good enough talent to get back to NRL level. The question was whether he could ever regain the kind of form that saw him don the sky blue for NSW.

"That never went away. There was always a bit of doubt as to whether I was as good as I was. But I knew I had the skills and the footy brain to keep playing. It was just a confidence thing and once I got that back, I knew I was going to start playing good footy.

"That's all it is. It's a confidence thing – and I'm feeling confidence."